Public health is all around us and often goes overlooked in our daily lives. Seat belts in cars? That’s public health. Clean, smoke-free indoor spaces? That’s public health. Drinking water that’s safe and healthy to drink? That’s public health, too.
Public health is evident in the water we drink, the air we breathe, the food we eat, the roads we drive and the care we receive. The first week of April, known as United States Celebrates National Public Health Week, is an opportunity for health departments and organizations around the world to reach out and promote public health.
The theme of this year’s Public Health Week focuses on the economic benefits of public health. The return on investment for dollars spent on public health is large and undeniable. The saying that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure certainly rings true for the many aspects of public health.
This week, Carson City Health and Human Services encourages our community to take part in public health. We invite you to take a stroll along the “Trail to Good Health,” a temporary interpretive installation that has been placed on the Freeway Multi-Use Path in collaboration with the Parks and Recreation Division to commemorate National Public Health Week. As you’re walking, take a moment to read the informational signs and consider how you might be able to help create a healthier Carson City.
We’d love to hear feedback about your experiences on the trail on our Facebook page, www.Facebook.com/CCHHS.
Each day this week will focus on a new theme:
Monday: Ensuring a Safe, Healthy Home for Your Family: Health and safety begin at home.
Tuesday: Providing a Safe Environment for Children at School: Schools are the perfect setting for improving child health.
Wednesday: Creating a Healthy Workplace: Wellness and safety in the workplace are good for health and for business. Let’s make prevention work for us.
Thursday: Protecting You While You’re on the Move: Safety on the go is often in our own hands, but it’s also tied to community design. Together, we can turn our streets into roads to better health.
Friday: Empowering a Healthy Community: Support public-health efforts that create healthy opportunities for all.
Good health is a community affair. During Public Health Week, experience public health for yourself and be mindful of the many ways that public health influences your life every day.
For more information about Health Department services, check out our website at www.gethealthycarsoncity.org or “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CCHHS.